In taking up President Barack Obama’s health overhaul Monday, the Supreme Court wades into an issue that not only could sway this fall’s elections but also could help define for generations what Congress is and isn’t entitled to do.

A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down California’s voter-mandated ban on gay marriages, but stopped short of finding that other states or the federal government were required to recognize same-sex marriage. The decision sets the stage for the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on gay marriage as soon as next year, and could add fuel to the issue in the presidential campaign. In a 2-1 vote, a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said California’s 2008 law, popularly known as Proposition 8, violated the 14th Amendment’s equal-protection clause by stigmatizing a minority group without legitimate reason. WSJ’s Jess Bravin has more. Download MP3

Rick Santorum jolted the Republican presidential race Tuesday with a three-state sweep of nominating contests in Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota, puncturing Mitt Romney’s claim to be the unstoppable front-runner. Mr. Santorum’s three victories, one in the Mountain West and two in the Midwest, give his campaign a much-needed burst of momentum while stirring doubt about Mr. Romney’s abilities to woo conservatives to his side in important electoral swing states such as Missouri and Colorado. So far, Mr. Romney has won in states where he has devoted significant campaign time and advertising dollars. WSJ Editorial Board member Brian Carney discusses what Mr. Santorum’s victory means in the long run. Download MP3

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The Supreme Court ruled Monday that police violated the Constitution when they attached a Global Positioning System tracker to a suspect’s vehicle without a valid search warrant, voting unanimously in one of the first major cases to test privacy rights in the digital era. The decision offered a glimpse of how the court may address the flood of privacy cases expected in coming years over issues such as cellphones, email and online documents. But the justices split 5-4 over the reasoning, suggesting that differences remain over how to apply age-old principles prohibiting “unreasonable searches.” WSJ’s Jess Bravin breaks down what the ruling means to law enforcement. Download MP3

Mitt Romney, welcome to John Boehner’s world. Both men one the presidential candidate just stung in South Carolina, the other the speaker of the House are fairly conventional leaders attempting to ride herd on a restless Republican Party that seems more interested in insurgent leaders. Let’s just say they are having limited success. That’s the real lesson of South Carolina’s Saturday primary, where Newt Gingrich, the Che Guevara of the right, always interested in leading a rebellion, smashed Mr. Romney, the Harvard M.B.A. interested in carefully calibrated, data-driven change. WSJ’s Jerry Seib explains. Download MP3

The Supreme Court is likely to decide by January whether a ruling on the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s health law will come before or after the November 2012 election. A federal appeals court in Atlanta struck down last week the law’s requirement for most Americans to carry health insurance. What isn’t certain is whether a high court decision would come before the end of its 2011-12 term next June. If the justices agree by January to hear an appeal, arguments likely will occur in March or April, with a decision before July. WSJ’s Jess Bravin explores what is likely to happen before the election. Download MP3

Nearly 200 drugs approved for people are currently in short supply, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The FDA has its own list, which is shorter because it tracks only drugs deemed medically necessary. That affects veterinarians, who are allowed to use FDA-approved human drugs off-label in pets under certain conditions. There are also sometimes shortages of animal-specific drugs. WSJ’s Katie Hobson explains what a pet owner should look out for. Download MP3

For the only country ever to have experienced the atomic bomb and the horrific effects of concentrated radiation exposure, the nuclear crisis escalating in Japan has had a crippling effect on the nation’s collective psyche. Panic and confusion swept through Japan on Tuesday after a fresh explosion at one reactor and a fire at another at a damaged plant in Fukushima. WSJ’s Mariko Sanchanta gives us a deeper look into the resilience of Japan’s population. Download MP3

It’s harder than ever to get a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. But while the court turns away 99% of 10,000-odd petitions filed each year, there are cases many justices find irresistible: fictitious ones. Leave it to the U.S. courts to try and rewrite history, overturning the verdict sentencing Socrates to death. WSJ’s Jess Bravin discusses why certain members of the high court are brushing up on Shakespeare. Download MP3

About WSJ This Morning

Wake up with America’s first news – The Wall Street Journal This Morning. Host Gordon Deal and news anchor Gina Cervetti go beyond the headlines with the day’s first look at news and business news from the U.S. and around the world; bringing a lively blend of intelligent information, humor, and expert analysis to morning radio.

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Gordon Deal Before taking the helm at The Wall Street Journal This Morning in November 2005, Gordon was well-known to New York City radio listeners, having worked at both WINS-AM and WCBS-AM where he honed his writing skills and developed his distinctive on-air reporting style. He also served as New York City bureau chief for Metro Networks where his reports aired on WOR-AM and WABC-AM.

Gina Cervetti has an extensive radio news anchoring and reporting background including several years at Boston NPR affiliate WBUR-FM where she anchored the local production of "All Things Considered" and "Here and Now." Gina is an Associated Press Award-winning broadcaster, whose reports have been heard all over New England, including WRKO Boston and WTAG Worcester. She graduated from Boston University.

Mike Gavin oversees the production of the show which includes coordinating segments with WSJ reporters, editors, and outside newsmakers. He also oversees the sound and content of the show including all music and sound elements. Mike had spent a decade in radio programming and production before finding a home at WSJ Radio in 2007. He lives at the Jersey Shore with his wife and son.